10 Amendments of Roberts ZĪLE related to 2015/0009(COD)
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) The EFSI should be considered as a temporary and one-off instrument within the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020.
Amendment 62 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The EFSI should support strategic investments with high economic value added contributing to achieving Union policy objectives, and all operations under EFSI should be consistent with Union's policies. In this perspective, EFSI support to transport infrastructure should contribute to the objectives of Regulation (EU) 1315/2013 (CEF) and Regulation No 1316/2013 (TEN-T).
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Decisions on the use of the EFSI support for infrastructure and large mid- cap projects should be made by an Investment Committee. The Investment Committee should be composed of independent experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in the areas of investment projects as well as in the investment areas concerned by the EFSI as defined in article 2a, paragraph 2, and a representative of the European Commission. This representative should co-operate closely with the respective Directorates-General of the Commission depending on the investment areas of the projects and ensure and confirm the consistency of potential operations with Union policies. The Investment Committee should be accountable to a Steering Board of the EFSI, who should supervise the fulfilment of the EFSI's objectives. To effectively benefit from the experience of the EIF, the EFSI should support funding to the EIF to allow the EIF to undertake individual projects in the areas of small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 a (new)
Recital 29 a (new)
(29 a) The EFSI should help to overcome Europe's current investment difficulties and thus contribute to strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion. The contribution from the Union budget to the EU Guarantee Fund should therefore be redeployed from other funds than from the funds already allocated to the cohesion policy.
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall conclude an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the establishment of a European Fund for Strategic Investments ('EFSI') for the period 2015-2020.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) The Commission Communication (COM(2014/330) on the European Energy Security Strategy has stressed that in order to improve energy security, Member States should complete the transposition of internal energy market legislation, notably unbundling rules, including a provision that transmission system operators controlled by non-EU entities comply with the same obligations as those controlled by EU entities; however the recent experience of certain non-EU operators seeking to avoid compliance with EU legislation on EU territory requires a stricter application and a reinforcement of the applicable rules at EU and Member State level: it can be facilitated by provision that only those projects concerning gas that are carried out in gas infrastructure sectors in Member States where the effective ownership unbundling is implemented, shall be eligible for the EU guarantee.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a Eligibility criteria for the use of the EU guarantee 1. The EFSI Agreement shall provide that EFSI is to support projects which: (a) are consistent with Union policies, (b) are economically and technically viable, (c) provide additionality, (d) maximise where possible the mobilisation of private sector capital. 2. In addition, the EFSI Agreement shall provide that the EFSI is to support projects pursuing any of the following general objectives: (a) development of the transport infrastructure, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 1316/2013 (CEF) and Regulation (EU) 1315/2013 (TEN-T Guidelines (both core and comprehensive networks); (b) development of the energy sector, in particular energy interconnections and other infrastructure, and thus contributing to energy security; (c) research, development and innovation; (d) development of the digital economy and society, in particular infrastructure for information and communication technologies, and thus contributing to the digital single market; (e) investment in education and training; (f) provision of financial support for companies having up to 3000 employees, with a particular focus on innovative micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. 3. When establishing the investment policy and risk policy for the EFSI support, the Steering Board shall take into account the need to avoid an excessive exposure within a given sector or geographic area.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall be composed of six independent experts and the Managing Director and a representative of the European Commission. Independent experts shall have a high level of relevant market experience in project finance and be appointed by the Steering Board for a renewable fixed term of three years. s well as in the investment areas concerned by the EFSI as defined in article 2a, paragraph 2, and be appointed by the Steering Board for a renewable fixed term of three years. Their recruitment follows a transparent procedure and their declaration of financial interests is transmitted to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. The representative of the European Commission shall have no voting power but shall confirm the consistency of potential operations with Union policies. He/she shall co-operate closely with the respective Directorates-General of the Commission depending on the investment areas of the projects and ensure and confirm the consistency of potential operations with Union policies. In the transport sector, the Investment Committee shall take into account recommendations expressed by respective Directorate-General of the Commission (DG MOVE) on those transport infrastructure projects which have been granted financial support from any EU programmes.
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. As far as the payments from the general budget of the Union referred to in paragraph 2(a) are concerned, the funds under heading 1B (Economic, social and territorial cohesion) shall not be redeployed.
Amendment 440 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Regarding the gas infrastructure projects, the EU guarantee shall only be granted for projects and operations which are carried out in the parts of gas infrastructure sectors where the provisions on unbundling of Directive 2009/73/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas are implemented, including in those Member States where derogations are applied in this regard.